More From This Category

Innovation

kjmcomm@comcast.netNASCAR / Growth Energy Announce Historic American Ethanol PartnershipAmerica’s Sport Joins Forces with America’s Fuel to Usher in New Era of Racing, Consumer EducationLAS VEGAS, Nev. – NASCAR, America’s most‐watched sport, and Growth Energy, the country’s leadingvoice for the U.S. ethanol industry, announced today that they have formed a historic new partnershipthat will help acquaint tens of millions of Americans with the significant environmental, economic, andnational security benefits of domestic ethanol.This new partnership, announced by NASCAR CEO Brian France, comes just weeks after NASCAR publiclystated that it would be taking its environmental commitment to the next level by fueling its races withSunoco Green E15 – a fuel that includes 15 percent renewable American ethanol, which is producedfrom corn that is grown and harvested by American farmers, and then processed and produced atethanol plants across the United States.Ethanol partners from around the country gathered at 15 separate Growth Energy‐organized AmericanEthanol Watch Parties in cities such as Des Moines, Indianapolis, Wichita, Columbus, Denver,Sacramento, Lincoln, Neb., and Lansing, Mich. to celebrate this historic partnership.“Today, America’s sport and America’s fuel have kicked‐off one of the most exciting partnerships in thehistory of NASCAR,” said NASCAR Legend Rusty Wallace. “This is a great moment for our sport and agreat moment for the hardworking men and women across the country who help make and producethis great fuel.”“There is nothing more American than NASCAR, and there is no fuel more American than ethanol. This isa perfect partnership,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “We are so proud that the bounty whichAmerica’s farmers produce throughout the week will be used in NASCAR racing on Sunday.”“We’re very excited to demonstrate the powerful performance associated with fuel ethanol’s highoctane value, and a NASCAR race track is the perfect stage. It’s also a great platform to educate millionsof fans about the public health benefits of ethanol,” said Dave Vander Griend, president and CEO of ICM,Inc. “Today’s announcement on the dynamic partnership between American Ethanol and NASCAR reallyspotlights the untapped potential of agriculture. For centuries, American farmers have successfullydemonstrated their ability to harness innovation and ingenuity to deliver homegrown food, fiber, andfuel. Maintaining a solid agricultural foundation will play a tremendous role in maintaining a strong U.S.economy, and by displacing millions of barrels of foreign oil with homegrown fuel, that role will expandeven further.”The official partnership to NASCAR is being made through a newly‐formed organization, AmericanEthanol, created by Growth Energy with the support of the National Corn Growers Association and otherkey U.S. farming and ethanol leaders. As an Official NASCAR Partner, American Ethanol will become atruly integrated industry player with activation to include exciting firsts for the sport:• Starting with Daytona in 2011, NASCAR’s Green Flag will be branded to feature both AmericanEthanol and NASCAR Green; symbolizing NASCAR’s continued efforts toward environmentalresponsibility• The driver with the fastest average speed on restarts per race will be presented with theAmerican Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award• American Ethanol branding on the Fuel Port of every car in each NASCAR national series• Presenting sponsorship of the NASCAR Green Summit“NASCAR and American Ethanol are ideal partners,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.“NASCAR is a great American sport in its third generation of family ownership, and ethanol is producedfrom the harvest of family‐owned farms across our country’s heartland.“American Ethanol’s new partnership with NASCAR is much larger and more ambitious than a typicalsports sponsorship. Here we have an entire industry looking to NASCAR to communicate its messagethat America is capable of producing its own renewable, greener fuel. The entire NASCAR industry willbenefit from American Ethanol’s multi‐faceted support of NASCAR, as well as from thousands of farmersand members of the ethanol supply chain now serving as new ambassadors for the sport.”